. >> this is barack obama. >> reporter: andlikeromney, thepresidentseesthisdebateasa chance to talk to america. >> it's a choice between two different paths for this country. it's a choice between two fundamentally different visions for our nation. >> reporter: the president has a lead in all nine of the key battleground states including ohio, which begins early balloting today. >> romney's task is difficult because he has to redefine himself as well as redefining the election. >> reporter: an election only 35 days away but still far from over. and the first debate is on the domestic issues that are defining this election. lynn? >> all right, brian, thanks. >>> elsewhere, the candidates for the u.s. senate in massachusetts, scott brown and elizabeth warren, debated for the second time last night. the two were combative as they staked out opposite positions on issues ranging from job creation to bringing home troops from afghanistan. nbc's david gregory of "meet the press" was the moderator, and they also clashed over brown's claim of partisan independence. >> if he is re-elected, that increase

? political showdown. president obama andmittromneyhunkerdown for theirhigh-stakesdebateindenver. >>> and bumpy ride. a 10-year-old philadelphia boy is arrested after swiping and then crashing a van. good morning, everyone, i'm lynn berry. those stories and more are straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. >>> and we are going to begin this morning with air scare. suspicion is swirling around american airlines after two flights in three days were returned to new york's jfk airport. the reason? passenger seats came loose on both planes. the first incident occurred on a flight from miami to boston. >> during climb-out, rows, passenger seats row 12d, e and f came loose out of the floor. passengers are unable to sit in that seat. >> well, the federal aviation administration said seating in both planes had recently undergone maintenance. the airline has now grounded eight 757s for reinspection. >>> to politics now where president obama and rival mitt romney will not be campaigning today, opting instead to prep for the first of their three debates tomorrow night in denver. republ